U.S. Embassy Condemns Murder of Journalist Uma Singh

January 14, 2009

The murder of journalist Uma Singh on January 11 in Janakpur is deeply disturbing. We call on the Government of Nepal to investigate this crime and prosecute the perpetrators under Nepali law.

Whether or not this heinous crime was the latest in the recent wave of attacks aimed at silencing journalists and undermining freedom of expression in Nepal, it was an assault on a basic tenet of democracy the rule of law.

The growing incidents of violence, many of which target women, underscore the necessity for the Government to improve protection of basic human rights. Only when these rights are protected, can democracy flourish.